Pasta with creamy kale sauce is comforting, tasty, and easy to make. This recipe is delicious, healthy, and dairy free.
Remember last week when I said that I was trying to drink more smoothies in 2015? Well, another thing that I’m trying to do is eat more kale. I know, kale is old news, right? Everyone loves it.
Well, so far, I have not really loved kale. I can tolerate it just fine, it’s okay, but I really want to love it. I know it’s great for me, and great for my family, so I want to find more ways to incorporate it into our diet around here.
So far, I’ve tried it in two new recipes, and I’m happy to say that I do indeed love it in these recipes! I’m going to keep trying it, and pretty soon kale will be my new spinach! :)
I took some kale and combined it with onions and garlic, and then added some vegan cheese and coconut milk. Once everything cooked, I pureed the sauce with an immersion blender and then tossed it with gluten free pasta. It was so easy to make and so delicious! I was surprised that even Baby Bee loved this dish. (He is a little bit picky about what he’ll eat, but he loved this).
This pasta with creamy kale sauce is delicious and comforting, and perfect for the bitterly cold days that we’ve been having here. If you’re not normally a kale fan, I’d encourage you to try this pasta out! I think you’ll love it.
This pasta with creamy kale sauce is:
- delicious and easy to make
- a great way to eat more kale
- gluten free and vegan
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Pasta with Creamy Kale Sauce.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces gluten free spaghetti cooked according to package directions
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups frozen chopped kale
- 1 cup Daiya shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
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Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
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In a large pot, cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until fragrant.
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Add the kale, and cook until heated through. Once the kale is cooked, add the Daiya cheese, coconut milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted.
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Remove pot from heat. Puree the sauce until smooth using an immersion blender.
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Add the cooked pasta to the kale sauce, and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Of course if you are not dairy free, feel free to use dairy cheese and milk. You can also use any non-dairy milk that works with your diet.
So, what are your feelings on kale? Love it, hate it? Or just so-so?
Erin Schauer
Hi! Just wondering if you think Oat milk or pea protein milk (Ripple Milk) would be an ok replacement for the coconut milk in this recipe? I recently found I have severe or moderate allergies to several things, gluten, casein, and cashew are the highest, but it was also suggested I eliminate almonds, coconut, and several others. I have printed a bunch of your recipes and I’m excited to try them, but I did notice you often use coconut milk. I figured I would at least try with an alternative since your recipes look so yummy!!!
Thanks!
Kelly Roenicke
I think it would work! I have not tried those kinds of milk, but it seems like it would work.
Katie Carter
I made this with fresh kale instead of frozen and it turned out delicious. I just cooked the kale with the onion and garlic until wilted, then added the rest of the ingredients. Served as a side with steak and corn on the cob, SO GOOD. My boyfriend does not like kale and absolutely loved this. I also used a regular ninja blender instead of an immersion blender.
Jill
This looks delicious! Did you make it with canned coconut milk?
Mike
Excellent recipe!!! The family loved it, and it was very easy to put together. We added some garlic shrimp to the mix, and it was amazing!
Jennifer
Made this for dinner tonight with turkey meatballs. Delicious!! We have lots of GF recipe so but new to the whole dairy-free requirement so this was a great recipe for us. I used fresh kale and just cooked it until wilted then put it all I. The food processor instead of immersion blender. Thanks for the great (and easy) recipe!
Kelly Roenicke
SO glad you like it!
Jenn S.
This looks so good!!! I am definitely going to try this! Just pinned!
Randle
Hi Kelly! That looks so good. I know kale is old news, but I still love it so much! The only way I still can’t take kale is in kale chip form. Bleck.
And I’m so ready to try a vegan cream sauce that isn’t cauliflower- or cashew-based. The coconut will be a nice change, and I might have to give the Daiya a try too. I’m afraid I’ll be as addicted to it as I am to Earth Balance…
Cat
This recipe is delicious! It comes together so easily, especially if you’ve prepped everything upfront.
Kelly
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!
Emily @SinfulNutrition
Oh my gosh, my mouth is watering! Love the use of coconut milk too. So creative!
Kelly
Thank you, Emily!
Jessica Levinson (@jlevinsonrd)
I too am not a huge kale lover and my husband turns up his nose any time we see it on a menu, so I don’t often dare to make it at home. The best recipes I’ve made with kale are in stews and sauces, like my kale pesto. Guess that’s the way to go for those who aren’t natural born kale lovers!
Kelly
Oooh, kale pesto sounds delish!
Strength and Sunshine
I don’t like pasta very much, but I LOVE kale!
Cat
I’m curious about leftovers and how well this dish works for a packed lunch. Also do you think the sauce could be pre-made and/or used on other dishes?
Kelly
Yes, I think the sauce can be premade and used on other dishes for sure! If you think you will have a lot of leftovers, I would keep some of the pasta and some of the sauce separate because the pasta may absorb all of the sauce and be kind of dry the next day.
Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasil)
Great way to use kale! I like it fine but I’m not overally obsessed with it vs. other leafy greens :) Can’t wait to try this version :)
Kelly
Thank you Deanna! I have always been more of a spinach girl myself! :)
Joana
Dear Kelly, I had the same reserves than you did but my companion just loves it! So I have also created my first kale recipe in form of a winter ragout (French stew) and it turned you well. I was thinking of experimenting using kale in one of my favorite pasta with spinach recipes and here it is :) Looking forward to try it tonight! Thank you for the recipe!
Kelly
Hi Joana! I hope you love it! I love your idea of adding kale to a stew as well!
Kristine's Kitchen
I enjoy kale in salads and smoothies, and now I can’t wait to try this pasta. It looks so simple, healthy, and delicious!
Kelly
I hope you love it, Kristine! We have been trying it in salads, too, and I am learning to like it more!